Sri Lanka Tour Packages From Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar is not called the City of Temples for decorative reasons. The Lingaraja Temple, the Mukteswar Temple, the Rajarani Temple, and over 700 other shrines across the city represent one of the most concentrated expressions of temple architecture in India. Bhubaneswar travellers carry a different relationship with sacred spaces than most Indian tourists. They see proportions, they read carvings, they understand the vocabulary of a temple's visual language.
Sri Lanka speaks that language back. The Dambulla Royal Cave Temple and Golden Temple has murals painted across 22 centuries by artists who understood exactly what they were making and why. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy is not a monument. It is a living institution that has organised the political and religious life of Sri Lanka continuously since the 4th century AD. And the ancient stupas of Anuradhapura were engineering projects of a scale that the Kalinga kingdom of Odisha would have recognised as equals.
Viacation's sri lanka tour packages from Bhubaneswar start at Rs 33,000 per person on ground. Biju Patnaik International Airport (BBI) connects to Colombo via Chennai or Kolkata with total travel times of 4 to 5 hours.
Book your Sri Lanka tour package from Bhubaneswar now and get the best deals with a customised itinerary.
How to Reach Sri Lanka From Bhubaneswar
By Air
Biju Patnaik International Airport (BBI) connects to Colombo via Chennai (MAA) or Kolkata (CCU).
- BBI to Chennai (MAA): IndiGo, Air India. Approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
- MAA to CMB: SriLankan Airlines, IndiGo. Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes direct.
- Total via Chennai: 3.5 to 4 hours including connection
- BBI to Kolkata (CCU): IndiGo, Air India. Approximately 1 hour.
- CCU to CMB: IndiGo, SriLankan Airlines via Chennai. Approximately 3 to 4 hours.
- Best option: Via Chennai for the shortest total journey and the direct Chennai to Colombo flight
Viacation includes Colombo airport transfer in all Sri Lanka tour packages from Bhubaneswar.
Quick Facts About Sri Lanka
- Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). 1 INR is approximately 3.8 to 4 LKR
- Language: Sinhala, Tamil, English widely spoken
- Time Zone: UTC +5:30, same as IST
- Visa: Visa-free for Indian citizens for 30 days (as of 2024)
- Best Season: December to March for south and west coast
- Ideal Trip Duration: 7 to 8 days
- Airport: Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
- Buddhist Sites: Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla, Kandy
Many travelers rush through Sri Lanka and miss its best side. These Places to Visit in Sri Lanka help you avoid that mistake.
Religious Places in Sri Lanka: A Complete Guide
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy
The Sri Dalada Maligawa is the most venerated Buddhist site in Sri Lanka. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic within the Sacred City of Kandy houses a tooth relic of the Buddha that has been the symbolic centre of Sri Lankan governance since it was brought to the island in the 4th century AD. Kings who controlled the relic were believed to have the right to rule. The complex's moated courtyard, golden canopy, and layered roof architecture represent the finest example of Kandyan royal architecture on the island.
Ruwanweli Maha Seya, Anuradhapura
Built in the 2nd century BC by King Dutugamunu, Ruwanweli Maha Seya stands 55 metres high and is one of the tallest ancient monuments in the world. The surrounding complex includes the sacred Bodhi tree, believed to be a cutting from the Bodh Gaya tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. This is the oldest documented human-planted tree in history, now over 2,300 years old.
Dambulla Royal Cave Temple and Golden Temple
Sri Lanka's most significant cave temple. Five chambers with 157 Buddha statues and over 2,100 square metres of murals on walls and ceilings, painted continuously from the 1st century BC to the 18th century. The quality and quantity of ancient Buddhist art here has no parallel in South Asia.
Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya
Located 11 km from Colombo, Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, Sri Lanka is believed to mark the site where the Buddha himself visited Sri Lanka during his third and final visit to the island. It is one of the most actively worshipped Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka and houses some of the finest modern Buddhist murals on the island depicting the Jataka tales.
Kataragama
A multi-religious sacred site in the far south of Sri Lanka. Significant for Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims simultaneously, Kataragama is one of the most active pilgrimage destinations in Asia. The Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Dewalaya at its centre is dedicated to the war god Kataragama and attracts pilgrims from across Sri Lanka and South India throughout the year.
Best Time to Visit Sri Lanka From Bhubaneswar
December to March: Peak Season
The southwest circuit is at its finest. Bhubaneswar's pleasant winter months align perfectly with Sri Lanka's best weather on the west and south coast.
- Temperature: 27°C to 31°C on the coast
- Ideal for: Cultural heritage circuit, Kandy, Ella, Galle Dutch Fort, Yala National Park
April to June: Pre-Monsoon Escape
While Bhubaneswar heats up through April and May, Sri Lanka's hill country at Ella and Nuwara Eliya stays cool and pleasant. The cultural triangle remains accessible.
- Temperature: 15°C to 22°C in hill country, 28°C to 32°C on coast
- Ideal for: Ella, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, temple circuits
July to September: East Coast
The northeast coast including Trincomalee is at its best while the southwest gets rain. A useful alternative for Bhubaneswar travellers who want beach time during Sri Lanka's off-peak season on the west side.
- Temperature: 28°C to 34°C
- Ideal for: Trincomalee, Uppuveli Beach, east coast exploration
7-Day Sri Lanka Itinerary From Bhubaneswar
Day 1: Bhubaneswar to Colombo via Chennai
Morning flight from BBI to MAA (1.5 to 2 hours). Connect to Colombo (1 hour 20 minutes direct). Arrive by afternoon. Check in and visit Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, Sri Lanka and Gangaramaya Temple. Overnight in Colombo.
Day 2: Colombo to Anuradhapura
Drive north to Anuradhapura. Visit Ruwanweli Maha Seya, the Bodhi tree, and the main stupa complex. Overnight in Anuradhapura.
Day 3: Anuradhapura to Sigiriya via Dambulla
Drive south toward Dambulla Royal Cave Temple and Golden Temple (2 hours minimum). Continue to Sigiriya. Overnight near Sigiriya.
Day 4: Sigiriya to Kandy
Climb Sigiriya Lion Rock before 7 AM. Drive to Kandy. Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in the Sacred City of Kandy. Overnight in Kandy.
Day 5: Kandy to Ella by Train
The famous hill country scenic train from Kandy to Ella. Visit Nine Arches Bridge and Ravana waterfall. Overnight in Ella.
Day 6: Ella to Yala
Drive to Yala National Park. Afternoon game drives for leopards and elephants. Overnight near Yala.
Day 7: Yala to Galle and Return
Drive to Galle Dutch Fort. Afternoon inside the fort. Visit Kataragama on the way south if itinerary allows. Drive to Colombo airport. Return via Chennai to Bhubaneswar.
The best memories are rarely planned perfectly. Still, these Things to do in Sri Lanka come pretty close.
All Packages
Why Book Packages with Viacation?
Trusted by 1,00,000+ travellers
Dedicated experts to plan your trips
Secure bookings, clear cancellations
10,000+ unique trips to choose from
All Packages
No direct flights operate from Biju Patnaik International Airport (BBI) to Colombo. The fastest connection is via Chennai (1.5 to 2 hours to Chennai, then 1 hour 20 minutes direct to Colombo). Total journey time is approximately 3.5 to 4 hours.
Yes, and strongly so. Sri Lanka's Buddhist heritage is among the most significant in the world, with sites including Anuradhapura, Dambulla, and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy. For Bhubaneswar's Buddhist and Hindu communities, the island's religious landscape is deeply rewarding. Viacation builds dedicated pilgrimage-focused itineraries for Bhubaneswar travellers.
A 7-day trip from Bhubaneswar including connecting flights via Chennai, accommodation, in-country transport, and guided sightseeing typically costs between Rs 60,000 and Rs 90,000 per person. Viacation's on-ground packages start at Rs 33,000 per person, excluding flights.
Bhubaneswar's Kalinga temple architecture represents the most concentrated density of temples in a single city in India. Sri Lanka's heritage is more spread geographically but includes sites of greater individual antiquity. The Ruwanweli Maha Seya dates to the 2nd century BC, predating most of Bhubaneswar's major temples by several centuries. Together, the two traditions represent complementary chapters of South Asian Buddhist and Hindu architectural history.
December to March is ideal and aligns with Bhubaneswar's own pleasant winter months. This window gives you the best conditions across the south and west coast including Galle, the cultural triangle, and Yala. For heritage-focused travel without beach priority, the shoulder season of October to November also delivers well at lower prices.
